• Photo 1
• Photo 2

1. Marcinkiewicz: declined. Could make one similar, perhaps. $5k

2. Josh Landress, (646) 922-7126: Thought $2k and up, depending. Would not be perfect repair, graft in bell? If soft solder had crystallized due to heat, would not be disassemblable, and project likely a non-starter. Also suggested Ita, Metzler, Stewart, and Oberloh.

3. Rich Ita:
   • I will be happy to see some photos. If I take it on, I will expect payment in mutton sandwiches, where the mutton is nice and lean!
     Brass Instrument Workshop
     1822 Lower Roswell Road
     Marietta, GA 30068
     
     770-565-9949
     Tues-Sat 10-5
     www.brassinstrumentworkshop.com
   • I have sent a message to Conn-Selmer, since they own Holton/LeBlanc, to see if there is any chance of getting replacements for the bell and leadpipe, etc. I doubt that they will want to accommodate my request but you never know. I have a new/old stock Martin Magna/Committee large bore bell here at my shop that I have been saving for a special project but my understanding is that Leblanc did not use the Committee mandrel for their bells. There are replicas of the original leadpipes available from independent makers so ultimately, we could piece together something very close to the original if we can't get the original parts.

     Also, I am friendly with Wallace Roney who is a major artist who is dedicated to the Committee and he may be able to help us find the right components. Schilke recently worked with him to reproduce the large bore Committee because Schilke had a lot of input in the design of the original models by Martin.

     So, I don't see it as impossible to restore this to a playable horn. I don't know how close we can get to original since the horn was from a small production run but I am sure we can get reasonably close.

     Price will be a LOT of mutton sandwiches. Depending on the finish and how we source the parts, I am guessing $2-3000 by the time it is done. Are there any photos of it available from before the fire? Thanks, Rich Ita

   • I just sent a message to both Akright and Schilke to see if getting a 6" bell is in the realm of possibility. Will keep you posted.
   • I understand that there is a Yamaha bell with a 5.25 in. diameter however, the bell flare shape will be quite different than the Committee. With some work I could open it up to something similar but I don't know how far I can take it. Depends on metal thickness. Also, I can get a 5.25" bell that would be closer but it will never be 6".

     The only other option would be to have a bell spun especially for it. I have contacted Roy Lawler to see if he is in a position to do that. I understand that he is planning to retire at the end of the year.

     Will let you know when I hear back from him.

   • Lawler says he is considering it.
   • Sounds like you did a great job of detective work and you can't go wrong with Dick Akright. I'd love to see photos when it is done.

4. Mark Metzler (Elkhart): No response.

5. Robb Stewart (Arcadia): Also thought it would be $2k and up, depending. Declined, bell damage too bad.

6. Dan Oberloh: No response.

7. Dick Akright (Oakland), (415) 827-2018, A&G Music/Best Instrument Repair, (510) 832-0381: Thought it might be repairable, based on description, but that the bell rim was burnt through is not a good thing at all... Has found another bell, Mic's widow had it. She wants $600 for it. Sold!

Tuesday, February 14, 2017, Got the horn boxed up and shipped. I made a custom shipping container for the pieces out of a monitor box, I cut the existing styrofoam inserts to make nests for the various parts.